Tag Archive | "st. jude memphis marathon"

The St. Jude Marathon and Half Marathon in Memphis, Tennessee was cancelled earlier this evening by race directors due to safety concerns for runners, volunteers, and spectators after a nasty ice storm and cold temperatures invaded the area on Friday.

However, unlike with cancellations at other marathons, race directors are offering three options for runners to not be totally left out in the cold according to The Commercial Appeal:

“Runners have three options, and donating the registration fee is one of them. St. Jude will also refund the fee, or apply it to one of three upcoming marathons: P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon and Half-Marathon in Phoenix Jan. 19; the Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon and Half-Marathon Feb. 2 or the St. Jude Country Music Marathon and Half-Marathon in Nashville April 26.”

So runners can 1. Donate the entry fee to St. Jude, 2. Refund the fee to the runner, or 3. apply it to either the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon/Half, Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon/Half, or St. Jude Country Music Marathon/Half.

“Registered participants will also get first dibs to sign up for the 2014 event, which will be on the first Saturday in December, during a special registration window that will be announced later.”

It sounds like race directors made the right call in canceling the race according to reports we are hearing from runners and residents in the area.

The Dallas Marathon was cancelled earlier in the day due to similar conditions and concerns.

Indiana native Justin Gillete won the St. Jude Memphis Marathon on December 1, 2012 in Memphis, Tennessee with a time of 2:35:13.

Justin is member RIF #153 of Run It Fast – The Club, and we had a chance to ask him about his preparation leading up to and victory in Memphis:

“Memphis has always been on my list of races that I would like to experience winning because the race is for a great cause. Since I am a more popular runner than some, I always feel that winning a race that is for such a good cause gives that race a little more publicity.

I entered the marathon several months ago, and briefly considered withdrawing as I had to miss 11 days running in the 3 weeks prior to the marathon due to poison ivy and an injury while cutting wood.

Overall I didnt run as fast as normal but that doesnt diminish the value of winning such a great event.

Prior to the race starting I was not allowed into the elite athlete pre race suite, I used that as motivation during the race.”

It was the 55th marathon win in Justin’s running career. Truly an amazing accomplishment.

Gillette was able to hold off Cookeville’s (TN) Brian Shelton who finished close behind in 2:37:43. Third place went to Greg Lemmon, from Cincinnati, with a time of 2:39:16. It should be noted that Matthew Thomas, from Alexandria, Virginia, was a very close 4th place in 2:39:24.

What an exciting and close field of runners that finished atop the field down in Memphis.

On the women’s side the win went to Angie Zinkus, from Eads, Tennessee, who finished with a time of 2:55:39. Her finish was fast enough to be 16th overall.

Second place female went to Laura Blaylock, from New Orleans, in 3:02:21 with third place female going to Floridian Carrie Pustilnik (3:08:15).

[Medal photo submitted by RIF #191 Kristy who finished her first marathon at St. Jude. Congrats!! Follow her on Twitter @KRISTY_RUNS The Half Marathon medal is submitted by RIF #166 Nathan Judd. Follow him on Twitter @Beukdeup]